A TASTE OF MAGIC, by J. Elle, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Aug. 30, 2022, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
A Black girl learns she’s a witch and that her inner-city magic school is in danger of closing in A Taste of Magic, by J. Elle.
Kyana Turner has just found out the family secret–she’s a witch! This means mandatory lessons every Saturday at Park Row Magick Academy, the magic school hidden in the back of her local beauty shop. Learning spells, discovering charms and potion recipes, and getting a wand made to match her hair’s curl pattern, Kyana feels like she’s a part of something really special. The hardest part will be keeping her magic a secret from non-Magick folks, including her BFF, Nae.
But when the school loses funding, the students must either pay a hefty tuition at the academy across town or have their magic stripped . . . permanently. Determined not to let that happen, Kyana comes up with a plan to win a huge cash prize in a baking competition. After all, she’s learned how to make the best desserts from her memaw. But as Kyana struggles to keep up with magic and regular school, prepare for the competition, and keep her magic secret, she wonders if it’s possible to save her friendships, too. And what will she do when, in the first round of competition, a forbidden dollop of magic whisks into her cupcakes? —Synopsis provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
A Taste of Magic is the second magic-themed middle-grade book with a Black girl protagonist at the center that I’ve read this month, and A Taste of Magic is definitely the stronger of the two.
Though Kyana has just learned she’s a witch, she already knows who she is. Perhaps it’s her interactions with her mom and grandmother that steady her. There’s an air of confidence even when she’s unsure.
But even with a strong foundation, Kyana still has a lot to learn about life, friendship and magic.
A Taste of Magic is author J. Elle’s first foray into middle grade, but you’d never know it. She has a strong sense of who her audience is. The magic elements are cool and all, but it’s the social elements that will really speak to middle readers.
On the magic front, incorporating something Kyana already has a knack for — cooking — with her newfound skills is a brilliant stroke. It feels natural, and the book is better for it. (The collection of recipes at the end is a nice touch, too.)
A Taste of Magic is a fun read that should appeal to a wide variety of readers from all backgrounds.
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